Vehicle-use automatic opening/closing device

ABSTRACT

When a slide door stops at an intermediate position over a protection action time start time (Tβ), an electric motor is operated in closing direction in low driving force mode. When the move speed (Vc) of the slide door is a movable speed (Vα) or higher, the slide door is moved to its fully closed position by automatic closing action, and an electromagnetic clutch is disconnected. On the other hand, when the move speed (Vc) of the slide door is not made to reach the movable speed (Vα) or higher over a speed judgment time (Tj), the electric motor is operated in closing direction in the low driving force mode, and when the move speed (Vo) of the slide door is made to reach the movable speed (Vα) or higher, the slide door is automatically opened. Further, when the move speed (Vo) of the slide door is made to reach the movable speed (Vα) or higher for the speed judgment time (Tj), the electric motor is stopped, and the electromagnetic clutch is made into its disconnected status.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates byreference essential subject matter disclosed in International PatentApplication No. PCT/JP2003/011708 filed on Sep. 12, 2003 and JapanesePatent Application No. 2002-266312 filed on Sep. 12, 2002.

TECHNICAL FILED OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automatic open-close device for avehicle that automatically opens and closes an open-close componentarranged to the vehicle, more specifically, it relates to a technologyadvantageous when applied to opening and closing a slide door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As an open-close component arranged to a vehicle such as an automobile,a slide door that opens and closes in sliding manners along a guide railis known. For example, in many wagons and station wagons, slide doorsare arranged at their sides for passengers' getting on and off andloading and unloading cargos into and from vehicle sides.

This slide door has small opening space required for opening andclosing, and is frequently applied for a relatively large openingportion, and a slide door itself tends to become of a larger size.Therefore, the weight of the slide door becomes heavy, and in somecases, it is difficult for a woman or a child to freely open and closeit. Especially, on a slope, the slide door will not easily open owing toits own weight, or it will close abruptly, which has been a problem withthe prior art. Therefore, under circumstances of increased family usesof station wagons and the likes, vehicles loaded with an automaticopen-close device of a slide door that may be opened and closed easilyby a women and a child have been released, and the number thereof isincreasing for their convenience. As this automatic open-close device,one having a drum around which a cable attached to a slide door iswound, and an electric motor that rotates this drum is known, and byrotating the electric motor in normal and reverse directions, the slidedoor is automatically opened and closed.

Further, even for vehicles loaded with the automatic open-close device,there is a request for using manual open-close operation together.However, because a gear deceleration mechanism that decelerates theoutput of the electric motor is arranged between the electric motor andthe drum, when the slide door is moved manually, the electric motor isalso rotated via a deceleration gear, and resistance working on theslide door becomes large, and the open-close operation becomes heavy.Therefore, an electromagnetic clutch is arranged between the geardeceleration mechanism and the drum, and when the slide door stops inits fully opened status or fully closed status, this electromagneticclutch is cut off, and a manual open-close operation may be carried out.

In such an automatic open-close device, when the electromagnetic clutchis disconnected, the drum will rotate easily, accordingly, when theslide door is stopped at the intermediate position between its fullyopened position and fully closed position, if the electromagnetic clutchis disconnected, in the instance when a vehicle is inclined, the slidedoor will open and close abruptly owing to its own weight, which isdangerous. Therefore, in one disclosed in Patent Application Laid-OpenPublication No. 10-317795 Gazette, when the slide door is stopped in itsintermediate position, the electromagnetic clutch is made into itsconnected status, thereby the slide door is prevented from abruptlyopening or closing on a slope or so. However, because theelectromagnetic clutch is kept at its connected status when current issupplied from a battery, if the slide door is stopped at theintermediate position for a long time, the battery burden increases, andin some cases, the battery is apt to become dead, which has been otherproblem with the prior art.

Meanwhile, as disclosed in Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No.10-193978 Gazette, an automatic open-close device is known where whenthe slide door stops halfway, the electromagnetic clutch is controlledintermittently and the slide door is moved to the open-close end portionand the electromagnetic clutch is switched to its disconnected status.However, in this instance, when the electromagnetic clutch is connectedand disconnected, abrasion of the clutch surface is facilitated, andsounds occur owing to intermittent operation of the clutch, and electricnoises occur, which has been still other problem with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to improve theoperational feeling of an automatic open-close device for a vehicle.

The other object of the present invention is to reduce the burden of abattery by an automatic open-close device for a vehicle.

According to the present invention, actions of the open-close componentthat stops at its intermediate position are controlled according to theinclined status of a vehicle, therefore, it is possible to improve theoperational feeling thereof, without causing uncomfortable feeling topassengers and the likes.

Further, according to the present invention, even when the driving unitis operated by low driving force to one direction of either its openingdirection or its opening direction, if the open-close component fails toreach a specified speed within a specified time, the driving unit isoperated by low driving force to the other side of either its openingdirection or its closing direction, therefore, even when the vehicle isinclined with either side in the open-close direction of the open-closecomponent as a downward side, it is possible to move the open-closecomponent toward the downward side of the inclination.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, when the vehicle is atlevel, the driving unit is stopped with the open-close component at itsintermediate position, therefore, it is possible to prevent theopen-close component from being automatically moved even when thevehicle is at level, and to improve the operational feeling of thisautomatic open-close device for a vehicle.

Moreover, according to the present invention, the open-close componentthat stops at its intermediate position over a specified time does notmove owing to its own weight irrespective of the inclined status of thevehicle, and the clutch is disconnected after being controlled accordingto the inclined status of the vehicle, therefore, it is possible toreduce the burden of a battery.

Still further, according to the present invention, the clutch isdisconnected after being controlled according to the inclined status ofthe vehicle, therefore, it is possible to prevent abrasion of the clutchsurface, sounds, and electric noises from occurring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory figure showing a vehicle where a power slidedoor device as a preferred embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view showing the details of the power slidedoor device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view showing the details of a slide actuator shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along A-A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory figure showing the control mode of the powerslide door device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the control procedures of batteryprotection actions in the power slide door device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory figure showing the control timing in batteryprotection actions; and

FIG. 8 is an explanatory figure showing the control timing in batteryprotection actions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, in a vehicle 1, a power slide door device 2 as anautomatic open-close device for a vehicle is arranged, and this powerslide door device 2 has a slide door 3 as an open-close component. Thisslide door 3 is movable along a slide rail 4 fixed onto the side of thevehicle 1 between its fully opened position shown in solid line and itsfully closed position shown in dashed line, namely, this slide door 3 isattached to the vehicle 1 so as to freely open and close. Further, whena passenger gets on or off a second seat 5 or a third seat 6 arranged inthe cabin, or puts cargos thereinto, the slide door 3 is opened to itsfully opened position.

As shown in FIG. 2, into the slide rail 4, a roller assy 7 that movesalong the slide rail 4 is assembled, and to this roller assy 7, the tippart of an arm 8 fixed to the slide door 3 is attached so as to freelyslide. Thereby, the slide door 3 is guided via the arm 8 and the rollerassy 7 by the slide rail 4 so as to move in the front and reardirections of the vehicle. Further, to the vehicle rear end of the sliderail 4, a stopper rubber 11 and a checker 12 are arranged, and when theslide door 3 is opened to its fully opened position, the roller assy 7is kept between the stopper rubber 11 and the checker 12, thereby themovement thereof is prevented.

In the vehicle front end of the slide rail 4, a curved portion 4 a isformed, and the roller assy 7 is guided by this curved portion 4 a,thereby the slide door 3 retracted and closed into the inside of thevehicle 1 so as to be contained in the same surface as the side surfaceof the vehicle 1. Further, to the slide door 3, a door lock 13 isarranged, and the slide door 3 that is in its fully closed position iskept by being locked by this door lock 13.

To the slide door 3, a cable 14 is attached via the arm 8 and the rollerassy 7. This cable 14 is guided to the front side and the rear side ofthe vehicle 1 toward reverse pulleys 15 and 16 arranged at both the endsof the slide rail 4, and by pulling one side of this cable 14,open-close actions of the slide door 3 are carried out. Further, so asto drive this cable 14, a slide actuator 20 is arranged to this powerslide door device 2. The slide actuator 20 is fixed onto the vehicle 1around the center of the slide rail 4, and the cable 14 is guided to theinside of the slide actuator 20 via the reverse pulleys 15 and 16 fromthe vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing the details of the slide actuator shown inFIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along A-A in FIG. 3, andFIG. 5 is an explanatory figure showing the control mode of the powerslide door device shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, to the slide actuator 20, an electricmotor 21 is arranged as a driving unit. This electric motor 21 isoperated when voltage is applied between power source terminals notillustrated therein, namely when current is supplied, namely, a rotatingshaft 22 rotates. Further, by changing the direction of the currentsupplied between power source terminals not illustrated therein, therotating shaft 22 may be rotated in its normal direction and its reversedirection.

To the rotating shaft 22, a multi pole magnetized magnet 23 where 10poles are magnetized is fixed, and near the rotation orbit of this multipole magnetized magnet 23, two Hall IC's 24 are arranged with a phasedifference of 90 degrees to each other. These Hall IC's 24 may output apulse signal Ps at every change of magnetic field when the multi polemagnetized magnet 23 rotates, and when the rotating shaft 22 makes itsone rotation, from the Hall IC's 24, pulse signals Ps for 10 cycleswhere phases are displaced by 90 degrees are output. By the way, a HallIC is a sensor that converts a change of magnetic field into voltage.

The output of this electric motor 21, namely, the driving force thereofis transmitted via a driving gear 25, a large diameter spar gear 26 anda small diameter spar gear 27 to a driven gear 28. Namely, the drivinggear 25 is fixed to the rotating shaft 22, and this driving gear 25 isengaged with the large diameter spar gear 26, and the small diameterspar gear 27 that is so formed as to rotate coaxially and integrallywith the large diameter spar gear 26 is engaged with the driven gear 28.Thereby, the rotation of the rotating shaft 22 is decelerated and thentransmitted to the driven gear 28.

In this slide actuator 20, an output shaft 30 is arranged so as tofreely rotate, and the driven gear 28 is supported so as to freelyrotate relatively with the output shaft 30. Further, between the drivengear 28 and the output shaft 30, namely, between the electric motor 21and the slide door 3, an electromagnetic clutch 31 as a clutch isarranged.

The electromagnetic clutch 31 is of so-called abrasion type, and has anarmature 32 a of a driving disk 32 and a driven disk 33 and a coilportion 34 that are arranged with their abrasion surfaces facing oneanother. The driving disk 32 is connected to the driven gear 28 via aspline joint 35, and rotates integrally with the driven gear 28 and ismovable to the driven gear 28 in the shaft direction thereof. On theother hand, the driven disk 33 is fixed to the output shaft 30, androtates integrally with the output shaft 30. The coil portion 34 isarranged behind the driven disk 33, and generates electromagnetic forcewhen current is supplied thereto, and pulls the armature 32 a of thedriving disk 32 closer to the driven disk 33. Accordingly, when currentis supplied to the coil portion 34, the abrasion surfaces of therespective disks 32 and 33 are pressure connected and theelectromagnetic clutch 31 gets in its connected status. Namely, in theconnected status, the driven gear 28 and the output shaft 30 becomefixed to each other via the respective disks 32 and 33, and forcetransmission becomes available. On the other hand, when the supply ofcurrent to the coil portion 34 is stopped, the abrasion force betweenthe respective disks 32 and 33 decreases and the electromagnetic clutch31 gets in its disconnected status, and the connection between thedriven gear 28 and the output shaft 30 is disconnected.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the slide actuator 20, a drum 36 on which aspiral guide slot is formed is arranged, and the cable 14 guided by theslide actuator 20 is wound around this drum 36 several times along theguide slot. This drum 36 is fixed to the output shaft 30, and rotatesintegrally with this output shaft 30. Namely, this drum 36 is connectedto the electric motor 21 via the gears 25 to 28, the electromagneticclutch 31 and the output shaft 30, and is rotated by the electric motor21. Further, when the drum 36 is rotated, either the vehicle front sideor the vehicle rear side of the cable 14 is wound up, and the slide door20 carries out open-close actions. Accordingly, when the electric motor21 is rotated in its normal direction and the drum 36 is rotated in itsopening direction that is clockwise in FIG. 3, the cable 14 at thevehicle rear side is wound up by the drum 36 and the slide door 3 ispulled by the cable 14 and moves toward its fully opened position. Onthe contrary, when the electric motor 21 is rotated in its reversedirection and the drum 36 is rotated in its closing direction that iscounterclockwise in FIG. 3, the cable 14 at the vehicle front side iswound up by the drum 36 and the slide door 3 is pulled by the cable 14and moves toward its fully closed position. In this manner, the slidedoor 3 is driven by the electric motor 21.

According to the structure explained above, the current supplied to theelectric motor 21 is controlled, thereby open-close actions of the slidedoor 3 may be controlled, and, the current supply to the electromagneticclutch 31 is controlled, thereby the connection between the electricmotor 21 and the slide door 3 may be switched to its connected statusand its disconnected status.

To the side of the drum 36, a multi pole magnetized magnet 37 where 10poles are magnetized is attached, and near the rotation orbit of thismulti pole magnetized magnet 37, a Hall IC 38 is arranged. This Hall IC38 may output a pulse signal at every change of magnetic field when themulti pole magnetized magnet 37 rotates, and when the drum 36 makes itsone rotation, from the Hall IC 38, pulse signals for 10 cycles areoutput.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this slide actuator 20, an electronic controlunit, namely, an ECU 40 is arranged to control the electric motor 21 andthe electromagnetic clutch 31. To this ECU 40, a battery loaded in thevehicle 1 but not illustrated therein is connected, and the ECU operatesby electric power supplied from this battery.

The ECU 40 is equipped with a micro processor (hereinafter, referred toas CPU 41), and to this CPU 41, a ROM 43, a RAM 44, a timer 45 and anI/O port 46 are connected via a bus line 42. In the ROM 43, controlprograms, calculation equations and map data and the likes are stored,and the RAM 44 may temporarily store data processed by the CPU 41.Further, to the I/O port 46, the Hall IC's 24 and 38, and a slide dooropen-close switch (hereinafter, referred to as open-close switch) notillustrated therein are connected, and pulse signals or command signalsfrom these components are input via the I/O port 46 to the CPU 41.

The ECU 40 may detect rotation speeds of the electric motor 21, i.e.,the move speed Vo in the opening direction of the slide door 3 and themove speed Vc in the closing direction thereof, according to the cycleTp of pulse signals Ps input from the Hall IC 24, and detect therotation direction of the electric motor 21, i.e., the move direction ofthe slide door 3 on the basis of the occurrence timing of these pulsesignals. Further, the ECU 40 detects that the cycle Tp of the pulsesignals Ps reaches a preset threshold value Tα or below, and thereby mayjudge whether the move speeds Vo and Vc of the slide door 3 reaches apreset specified speed, i.e., the move speed Vα or higher.

Further, the ECU 40 analyzes the rotation angle of the drum 36 by thepulse signals input from the Hall IC 38, and may detect the position ofthe slide door 3 on the basis of this rotation angle. This is made bythat the multi pole magnetized magnet 37 is magnetized so as to generatea reference pulse signal for the ECU 40 to recognize the referenceposition of the slide door 3 at the Hall IC 38, and pulse signals areincreased and decreased from the reference position of the slide door 3based on this reference pulse. By the way, the reference position may bethe fully opened position or the fully closed position of the slide door3, or plural reference positions may be arranged too. Further, the ECU40 may detect the lapsed time from a specified time point by the timer45. By the way, the position of the slide door 3 may be detected notonly by this Hall IC 38 but also by a resolver or a rotary encoder andthe like.

Further, the ECU 40 may recognize that the slide door 3 stops at theintermediate position between its fully opened position and its fullyclosed position, from the detected move speeds Vo and Vc of the slidedoor 3 and the position of the slide door 3. When the ECU 40 as a stoptime detecting unit recognizes that the slide door 3 stops at theintermediate position, it counts the lapsed time from the stop of theslide door 3 at the intermediate position. Namely, the ECU 40 may detectthe stop time Ts of the slide door 3 that stops at the intermediateposition. Further, the ECU 40 may judge whether this stop time Tsbecomes a specified time or more, i.e., a preset protection action starttime Tβ (10 minutes in the present embodiment) or more.

To the I/O port 46, the electric motor 21 and the electromagnetic clutch31 are further connected, and the CPU 41 calculates input signals fromthe Hall IC's 24 and 38 and the open-close switch according to thecontrol program stored in the ROM 43, and thereby executes the drivingcontrol of the electric motor 21 and the switching control of theelectromagnetic clutch 31.

The driving control of the electric motor 21 by the ECU 40 as a controlunit is carried out by Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control. In the PWMcontrol, the voltage to be applied to the portion between power supplyterminals not illustrated therein of the electric motor 21 isintermittently applied according to the pulse width of pulse having aspecified carrier frequency, and by changing this pulse width, it ispossible to adjust the voltage duty ratio, i.e., the voltage value to beapplied to the electric motor 21. Therefore, the ECU 40, by changing thevoltage duty ratio to be applied to the electric motor 21, i.e., thedriving duty ratio, may control the output, i.e., the driving force ofthe electric motor 21. Further, the ECU 40, by reversing the highpotential side and the low potential side of the voltage to be appliedto the portion between the power supply terminals of the electric motor21, may switch the directions of the current to be supplied to theelectric motor 21. Namely, the ECU 40 may switch the rotation directionof the electric motor 21 to its normal rotation and its reverserotation.

The ECU 40, by changing the duty ratio of the voltage to be applied tothe electric motor 21, may switch the actions of the electric motor 21to its automatic open-close mode and its low driving force mode. The ECU40 as an automatic open-close mode setting unit, in the automaticopen-close mode, may set the driving force of the electric motor 21enough to open and close the slide door 3 whether the vehicle 1 is atits level status or its inclined status. On the other hand, the ECU 40as a low driving force setting unit, in the low driving force mode, mayset the driving force of the electric motor 21 as weak as insufficientto move the slide door 3 when the vehicle 1 is at level. By the way,when the vehicle 1 is inclined by a specified angle or more in theopening and closing direction of the slide door 3, the driving force ofthe electric motor 21 in the low driving force mode may be set so as toslightly support the move of the slide door 3 toward the downward sideof the inclination.

Further, when the ECU 40 operates the electric motor 21 in the lowdriving force mode, the ECU counts the lapsed time from the start of theactions thereof, i.e., an action time Tr. And the ECU may judge whetherthe action time Tr becomes a preset speed judgment time Tj or more.

Furthermore, the ECU 40 as a clutch control unit controls the currentsupply to the coil portion 34 of the electromagnetic clutch 31, therebymay switch the electromagnetic switch 31 to its connected status and itsdisconnected status.

As shown in FIG. 5, between the drum 36 and the two reverse pulleys 15and 16, tensioners 51 and 52 are arranged respectively, and removeslackness of the cable 14 and keep the tension thereof always within aspecified range. The tensioners 51 and 52 comprise fixed pulleys 53 and54 and moving pulleys 55 and 56, and the fixed pulleys 53 and 54 and themoving pulleys 55 and 56 are interconnected by interconnectingcomponents 57 and 58. Central shafts 53 a and 54 a of the fixed pulleys53 and 54 are fixed to the slide actuator 20, on the other hand, centralshafts 55 a and 56 a of the moving pulleys 55 and 56 are formed in theinterconnecting components 57 and 58, and the moving pulleys 55 and 56rotate and also freely slide around the central shafts 53 a and 54 a ofthe fixed pulleys 53 and 54. Further, to the central shafts 55 a and 56a of the moving pulleys 55 and 56, other end of tension springs 59 and60 whose one end is fixed is attached, and the moving pulleys 55 and 56press the cable 14 arranged between the fixed pulleys 53 and 54, and maygive the cable 14 a specified tension to be determined by the tensionsprings 59 and 60. In this manner, by the tensioners 51 and 52, it ispossible to absorb slackness in the cable 14 that occurs just after thedrum 36 is rotated by the electric motor 21, and slackness in the cable14 that occurs when the roller assy 7 passes the curved portion 4 a ofthe slide rail 4.

Next, actions of the power slide door device 2 of such a structure asdescribed above are explained hereinafter.

When the open-close switch is operated by a driver when the slide door 3is in its fully closed status, and a command signal to open the slidedoor 3 is input to the ECU 40, the ECU 40 makes the slide door 3 carryout its automatic opening action. This automatic opening action iscarried out in the following procedures.

First, the ECU 40 supplies current to the coil portion 34 of theelectromagnetic clutch 31 and switches the electromagnetic clutch 31 toits connected status. Next, the ECU makes the electric motor 21 into itsautomatic open-close mode and rotate the electric motor in its normalrotation direction, i.e., its opening direction and rotates the drum 36in its opening direction. Thereby, the vehicle rear side of the cable 14is wound up by the drum 36, and the slide door 3 is pulled by the cable14 and starts moving toward its fully opened position. At this moment,the ECU 40 starts the detection of the move direction and the move speedVo of the slide door 3 by the pulse signal Ps from the Hall IC 24, andstarts the detection of the position of the slide door 3 by the pulsesignal from the Hall IC 38. Then, when the roller assy 7 goes over thechecker 12 and the slide door 3 moves to its fully opened position, thecurrent supply is cut off and the electric motor 21 is stopped, then,the electromagnetic clutch 31 is switched to its disconnected status.

On the contrary, when the open-close switch is operated by the driverwhen the slide door 3 is in its fully opened status, and a commandsignal to close the slide door 3 is input to the ECU 40, the ECU 40makes the slide door 3 carry out its automatic closing action. Thisautomatic closing action is carried out in the following procedures.

First, the ECU 40 supplies current to the coil portion 34 of theelectromagnetic clutch 31 and switches the electromagnetic clutch 31 toits connected status. Next, the ECU makes the electric motor 21 into itsautomatic open-close mode and rotate the electric motor in its reverserotation direction, i.e., its closing direction and rotates the drum 36in its closing direction. Thereby, the vehicle front side of the cable14 is wound up by the drum 36, and the slide door 3 is pulled by thecable 14 and starts moving toward its fully closed position. At thismoment, in the same manner as in the automatic opening action, the ECU40 starts the detection of the move direction and the move speed Vc ofthe slide door 3. Then, when the slide door 3 moves to its fully closedposition, the current supply is cut off and the electric motor 21 isstopped, then, the slide door 3 is kept at its fully closed position bythe door lock 13, and the electromagnetic clutch 31 is switched to itsdisconnected status.

This power slide door device 2 may carry out automatically theopen-close operation of the slide door 3 by the above automaticopen-close actions, i.e., the automatic opening action and the automaticclosing action, and also may carry out the open-close operation of theslide door 3 manually. Namely, when the slide door 3 gets in its fullyopened position or its fully closed position, the electromagnetic clutch31 is made into its disconnected status, and the drum 36 may easilyrotate also by input from the slide door 3 side, and the slide door 3may easily opened and closed manually.

Further, this power slide door device 2 may stop the slide door 3 at theintermediate position between the fully opened position and the fullyclosed position, by operating the open-close switch once again when theslide door 3 is opening or closing by the automatic opening action orthe automatic closing action. And, when the slide door 3 is stopped atthe intermediate position, even if the vehicle 1 is inclined in theopen-close direction of the slide door 3, the power slide door devicekeeps the electromagnetic clutch 31 at its connected status, in order toprevent the slide door 3 that is stopped at the intermediate positionfrom moving toward the downward side of the inclination owing to its ownweight. Namely, it keeps the electromagnetic clutch 31 at its connectedstatus and prevents the drum 36 from easily rotating, thereby keeps theslide door 3 that stops at the intermediate position at the intermediateposition.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the control procedures of batteryprotection actions in the power slide door device shown in FIG. 1.Further, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are explanatory figures showing the controltiming in battery protection actions.

In this power slide door device 2, when a specified time or more, i.e.,a protection action start time Tβ (10 minutes in the present embodiment)or more elapses after the slide door 3 stops at the intermediateposition, a battery protection action is carried out. By reference tothe flow chart shown in FIG. 6, the control procedures of this batteryprotection action are explained hereinafter.

First, when the open-close switch is operated once again while the slidedoor 3 is working in the automatic opening action or the automaticclosing action, in step S1, the slide door 3 temporarily stops at theintermediate position, and the ECU 40 starts counting, i.e., detecting astop time Ts. Next, in step S2, it is judged whether the stop time Tshas become the protection action Tβ or more. And if it is judged thatthe stop time Ts has become the protection action start time Tβ or morein the step S2, then in step S3, the low driving force mode is set, andthe electric motor 21 is operated in the closing direction by lowdriving force. Namely, when the slide door 3 stops at the intermediateposition for the protection action start time Tβ or more, the electricmotor 21 is operated by low driving force in the closing direction,i.e., the direction to drive the slide door 3 toward its fully closedposition, and low driving force working in the closing direction isgiven to the slide door 3.

Next, in step S4, it is judged whether the move speed Vc of the sliddoor 3 in the direction toward the fully closed position has become amovable speed Vα or higher. Herein, the movable speed Vα is a presetcomparative value for judging whether the slide door 3 has moved. And,when it is judged that the move speed Vc is the movable speed Vα orhigher in the step S4, a buzzer not illustrated therein sounds in stepS5, then in step S6, the electric motor 21 is operated in the closingdirection in the automatic open-close mode, and by the automatic closingaction, the slide door 3 moves toward the fully closed position. Namely,as shown in FIG. 7, when it is detected that the cycle Tp of the pulsesignal Ps, i.e., the n-th cycle Tpn from the setting of the low outputmode becomes the threshold value Tα or below and the move speed Vc ofthe slide door 3 in the low driving force mode becomes the movable speedVα or higher, the mode is switched to the automatic open-close mode andthe slide door 3 is automatically closed. Herein, the instance where themove speed Vc is judged to be the movable speed Vα or higher in the stepS4 is the instance where the vehicle 1 is so inclined that the closingdirection side, i.e., the vehicle front side of the slide door 3 is atthe downward side, and in such an instance, the slide door 3 isautomatically operated by the automatic closing action toward the fullyclosed position to become the downward side of the inclination. And whenthe slide door 3 reaches the fully closed position by the automaticclosing action, the electromagnetic clutch 31 is switched to itsdisconnected status. Namely, the electric motor 21 is operated in theclosing direction by low driving force, and it is detected that the movespeed Vc of the slide door 3 becomes the movable speed Vα or higher,thereby it is judged that the vehicle 1 is inclined in the closingdirection, and in this instance, the slide door 3 is moved to thedownward side of the inclination, thereby uncomfortable feeling topassengers and the likes is reduced, and the slide door 3 is moved tothe fully closed position, and in a status where the slide door 3 willnot close owing to its own weight, the electromagnetic clutch 31 isswitched to its disconnected status.

As described above, when the vehicle 1 is inclined in the open-closedirection of the slide door 3, the slide door 3 that has stopped at theintermediate position over the specified time is automatically operatedtoward the downward side of the inclination, as a consequence, the slidedoor 3 will not move against the inclination, namely, toward the upwardside of the inclination, and will not start moving when the vehicle 1 isin its level status, therefore, it is possible to improve theoperational feeling of this power slide door device 2, without causinguncomfortable feeling to passengers and the likes.

Further, when the vehicle 1 is inclined in the open-close direction ofthe slide door 3, the slide door 3 that has stopped at the intermediateposition over the specified time is automatically operated toward thedownward side of the inclination, as a consequence, in a status wherethe slide door 3 will not close owing to its own weight, it is possibleto switch the electromagnetic clutch 31 to its disconnected status, andthereby reduce the burden of the battery.

On the other hand, when the move speed Vc is judged to be the movablespeed Vα or below in the step S4, it is judged whether the action timeTr has become the speed judgment time Tj or more in step S7. And, in thestep S7, if the action time Tr is the speed judgment time Tj or more,the rotation direction of the electric motor 21 is reversed in step S8,namely, the electric motor is operated in the opening direction in thelow driving force mode, and low driving force in the opening directionis given to the slide door 3. Namely, by the electric motor 21 thatoperates in the closing direction in the low driving force mode, whenthe move speed Vc of the slide door 3 is not made into the movable speedVα or higher within the speed judgment time Tj, it is judged that thevehicle 1 is at its level status or inclined so that the openingdirection side, i.e., the vehicle rear side is at the downward side atthe specified inclined angle or more, and the operating direction of theelectric motor 21 is reversed. By the way, in the step S7, if its isjudged that the action time Tr is the speed judgment time Tj or below,the procedure goes back to the step S4, and it is judged once againwhether the move speed Vc of the slide door 3 has become the movablespeed Vα or higher.

Next, in step S9, it is judged whether the move speed Vo of the slidedoor 3 in the direction toward the fully opened position has become themovable speed Vα or higher. And in the step S9, if it is judged that themove speed Vo of the slide door 3 in the direction toward the fullyopened position is the movable speed Vα or higher, the buzzer notillustrated therein sounds in step S10, then in step S11, the electricmotor 21 is operated in the opening direction in the automaticopen-close mode, and as shown in FIG. 7, the slide door 3 moves towardthe fully opened position by the automatic opening action. Herein, theinstance where the move speed Vo is judged to be the movable speed Vα orhigher in the step S9 is the instance where the vehicle 1 is so inclinedthat the opening direction side, i.e., the vehicle rear side of theslide door 3 is at the downward side, and in such an instance, the slidedoor 3 is automatically operated by the automatic opening action towardthe fully opened position to become the downward side of theinclination. And when the slide door 3 reaches the fully opened positionby the automatic opening action, the electromagnetic clutch 31 isswitched to its disconnected status. In this manner, when the slide door3 is not moved even if the electric motor 21 is operated to the closingdirection by the low driving force, namely, even if the move speed Vc inthe direction toward the fully closed position is not the movable speedVα or higher, the operating direction of the electric motor 21 isreversed, thereby, when the move speed Vc is the movable speed Vα orhigher, it is judged that the vehicle 1 is inclined in the openingdirection, and the slide door 3 is automatically opened toward theopening direction. Accordingly, when the vehicle 1 is inclined in theopening direction, the slide door 3 moves to the downward side of thisinclination, consequently, it is possible to move the slide door 3 tothe fully opened position without causing uncomfortable feeling topassengers and the likes. Then, at the fully opened position, the slidedoor 3 will not close owing to its own weight, and in this status, theelectromagnetic clutch 31 is switched to its disconnected status.

In this manner, when the move speed Vc of the slide door 3 is not madeinto the movable speed Vα or higher even if the electric motor 21 isoperated to the closing direction by the low driving force, the electricmotor 21 is operated to the opening direction by the low driving force,consequently, even when the vehicle 1 is inclined with one side of theopening and closing directions of the slide door 3 at the downward side,it is possible to move the slide door 3 toward the downward side of theinclination.

On the other hand, in the step S9, if it is judged that the move speedVo is the movable speed Vα or below, in step S12, it is judged whetherthe action time Tr has become the speed judgment time Tj or more. In thestep S12, if it is judged that the action time Tr is the speed judgmenttime Tj or more, then in step S13, the electric motor 21 is stopped,thereafter, in step S14, the electromagnetic clutch 31 is switched toits disconnected status. Namely, as shown in FIG. 8, by the electricmotor 21 that operates in the low driving force mode, whether in theopening direction or in the closing direction, when the move speeds Vcand Vo of the slide door 3 are not the movable speed Vα or higher, it isjudged that the vehicle 1 is at level, namely in the status where theslide door 3 will not move owing to its own weight, and the slide door 3is left at the intermediate position and the electromagnetic clutch 31is switched to its disconnected status. By the way, in the step S12, ifit is judged that the action time Tr is the speed judgment time Tj orbelow, the procedure goes back to the step S9, where it is judged onceagain whether the move speed Vo of the slide door 3 has become themovable speed Vα or higher.

In this manner, by the low driving force mode, whether in the openingdirection or in the closing direction, when the move speeds Vc and Vo ofthe slide door 3 do not become the movable speed Vα or higher within thespecified time, the electric motor is stopped, therefore, when thevehicle 1 is at level, it may be stopped while leaving the slide door 3at the intermediate position. Accordingly, when the vehicle 1 is in itslevel status, the slide door 3 is kept at the intermediate position,therefore, it is possible to prevent the slide door from automaticallyopening or closing even when the vehicle 1 is in its level status, andto improve the operational feeling of this power slide door device 2.

Further, by the low driving force mode, whether in the opening directionor in the closing direction, when the move speeds Vc and Vo of the slidedoor 3 do not become the movable speed Vα or higher within the specifiedtime, namely, when it is judged that the vehicle is in its level status,the electromagnetic clutch 31 is switched to its disconnected status,therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of the battery.

In this manner, in the power slide door device 2 according to thepresent invention, the actions of the slide door 3 that stops at theintermediate position are controlled according to the inclined status ofthe vehicle 1, namely, when the vehicle 1 is inclined, the slide door ismoved to the downward side of the inclination, and when the vehicle isat level, the slide door is stopped at the intermediate position as itis, therefore, it is possible to improve the operational feelingthereof, without causing uncomfortable feeling to passengers and thelikes.

Further, in the power slide door device 2 according to the presentinvention, the slide door 3 that stops at the intermediate position overthe protection action start time Tβ is prevented from moving owing toits own weight irrespective of the inclined status of the vehicle 1, andthe electromagnetic clutch 31 is controlled according to the inclinedstatus of the vehicle 1 and thereafter disconnected, therefore, it ispossible to reduce the burden of the battery.

Furthermore, in the power slide door device 2 according to the presentinvention, and the electromagnetic clutch 31 is controlled according tothe inclined status of the vehicle 1 and thereafter disconnected, as aconsequence, there is no need to continuously control theelectromagnetic clutch 31, therefore, it is possible to preventabrasion, sounds, and electric noises of the electromagnetic clutch 31.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment herein, but maybe embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit oressential characteristics thereof. For example, in the presentembodiment, the open-close component is the slide door 3 that may befreely opened and closed in backward and forward directions, however,the present invention is not limited to this, but in the place of this,for example, other open-close components, such as a back door that isattached to a vehicle rear end via hinges so as to freely open and closein the vehicle lateral direction and the likes, may be employed.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the move speed Vc of the slidedoor 3 is not the movable speed Vα or higher in the low driving forcemode, the move speed Vo in the opening direction and the movable speedVα are compared, however, in the place of this, the move speed Vo in theopening direction and the movable speed Vα may be compared in advance,and when the move speed Vo is not the movable speed Vα or higher, themove speed Vc in the closing direction and the movable speed Vα may becompared.

As explained heretofore, the present invention may be applied to themanufacture of a vehicle where an open-close component may be opened andclosed automatically.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described withrespect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated bythose of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to thisinvention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

1. An automatic open-close device for a vehicle that has an open-closecomponent attached to the vehicle so as to freely open and close and adriving unit that drives the open-close component and a control unitthat controls the driving unit, and automatically opens and closes theopen-close component, the device comprising: a stop state detecting unitthat detects a stop state of the open-close component that stops in anintermediate position between its fully opened position and its fullyclosed position thereof; a low driving force mode setting unit thatoperates the driving unit by low driving force, when the stop statedetecting unit detects that the open-close component stops in theintermediate position between the fully opened position and the fullyclosed position thereof; and an automatic open-close mode setting unitthat makes the open-close component automatically open and close, whenthe move speed of the open-close component in the low driving force modebecomes a specified speed or higher within a specified time; whereinwhen the vehicle is inclined in the open-close direction of theopen-close component, the open-close component temporarily stops at theintermediate position and then the open-close component is automaticallyoperated toward the downward side of the inclination.
 2. The automaticopen-close device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in the lowdriving force mode, even when the driving unit is operated in either theopening direction or the closing direction, if the move speed of theopen-close component is not the specified speed or higher within aspecified time, the driving unit is operated in the other direction ofeither the opening direction or the closing direction.
 3. The automaticopen-close device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein when thedriving unit in the low driving force mode cannot make the open-closecomponent reach a specified speed or higher within a specified time ineither the opening direction or the closing direction, the driving unitis stopped.
 4. The automatic open-close device for a vehicle accordingto claim 1, wherein when the vehicle is at level, the driving force ofthe driving unit in the low driving force mode is set to a levelinsufficient to move the open-close component.
 5. The automaticopen-close device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when thevehicle is inclined in the open-close direction of the open-closecomponent, the driving force of the driving unit in the low drivingforce mode is set to a level insufficient to move the open-closecomponent toward the downward side of the inclination.
 6. The automaticopen-close device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprisinga clutch arranged between the open-close component and the driving unit,and a clutch control unit that keeps the clutch in its connected statuswhen the open-close component is at the intermediate position, and setsthe clutch in its disconnected status when the open-close component isat the fully opened position or the fully closed position, and sets theclutch in its disconnected status when the open-close component is notmade to reach a specified speed or higher within a specified time ineither the opening direction or the closing direction in the low drivingforce mode.
 7. The automatic open-close device for a vehicle accordingto claim 2, further comprising a clutch arranged between the open-closecomponent and the driving unit, and a clutch control unit that keeps theclutch in its connected status when the open-close component is at theintermediate position, and sets the clutch in its disconnected statuswhen the open-close component is at the fully opened position or thefully closed position, and sets the clutch in its disconnected statuswhen the open-close component is not made to reach a specified speed orhigher within a specified time in either the opening direction or theclosing direction in the low driving force mode.
 8. The automaticopen-close device for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprisinga clutch arranged between the open-close component and the driving unit,and a clutch control unit that keeps the clutch in its connected statuswhen the open-close component is at the intermediate position, and setsthe clutch in its disconnected status when the open-close component isat the fully opened position or the fully closed position, and sets theclutch in its disconnected status when the open-close component is notmade to reach a specified speed or higher within a specified time ineither the opening direction or the closing direction in the low drivingforce mode.